Historic: Swiss flag footballers win World Cup bronze

The Swiss men’s national flag football team is making history: they win the bronze medal at the World Championships in Lahti, Finland. Having started the tournament as number 14 in the world, they have now established themselves as one of the world’s best.

The quarter-final win against Canada was already a surprise. However, the fact that they then had to suffer a clear defeat against the USA in the semi-final was to be expected. “The USA is the measure of all things.” “Everyone is training to beat them one day,” said Lucerne wide receiver Noah Auf der Maur in the run-up to the tournament. The Americans were indeed crowned world champions for the fifth time in a row.

In the small final, Switzerland faced Mexico, who did not live up to their role as favorites. With the score at 35:35, Leon Auf der Maur managed the decisive touchdown a few seconds before the end. The exploit hoped for by Claudio Spescha, President of the Swiss American Football Association, was thus achieved.

The women also put in a remarkable performance. They are in the round of 16, where they lost to the reigning European champions from Great Britain 35:26. The team climbed five places in the world rankings and finished the tournament in 12th place.

With a view to the 2028 Olympic Games, the two teams have made a statement. Their recent successes will have a positive impact on Swiss Olympic’s promotion of the sport. We can now expect double Swiss participation when flag football makes its Olympic debut in four years.